Singledoublesuperaction

[Krilliad]

I'm a little confused on the subject of single-action, double-action etc. Pistols.
I can't seem to place them.

Also
whats the standard NATO round sizes/cartridges
and whats the most common 5.56 (.223) & 7.62 (.30 cool
size?
Like 7.62x___  

[Fresnel]

Single-action means the trigger will not pull the hammer back when pulled. On a 1911, you have to manually pull back the hammer before you fire the first shot, but the slide racks it back automatically for the rest. On a revolver, you have to pull it back yourself every time. In a double-action, it's possible to pull the trigger, and the hammer pulls itself back before dropping. Guns with an internal hammer are considered "Double-action only", because it's impossible to manually pull back the hammer.

Also, AFAIK, there's only 5.56x45, but 7.62 has x51, x39, x33, x25, x54r, and x38r at least. If I had to guess, I'd say that x51 is most common in the US, x39 most common in the world. Standard NATO is 5.56x45 and 7.62x51.  

[Crash Maniac]

Fresnel

Single-action means the trigger will not pull the hammer back when pulled. On a 1911, you have to manually pull back the hammer before you fire the first shot, but the slide racks it back automatically for the rest. On a revolver, you have to pull it back yourself every time. In a double-action, it's possible to pull the trigger, and the hammer pulls itself back before dropping. Guns with an internal hammer are considered "Double-action only", because it's impossible to manually pull back the hammer.

Also, AFAIK, there's only 5.56x45, but 7.62 has x51, x39, x33, x25, x54r, and x38r at least. If I had to guess, I'd say that x51 is most common in the US, x39 most common in the world. Standard NATO is 5.56x45 and 7.62x51.

Arnt Striker fired pistols under the same category as double action only?  

[Fresnel]

Crash Maniac

Fresnel

Single-action means the trigger will not pull the hammer back when pulled. On a 1911, you have to manually pull back the hammer before you fire the first shot, but the slide racks it back automatically for the rest. On a revolver, you have to pull it back yourself every time. In a double-action, it's possible to pull the trigger, and the hammer pulls itself back before dropping. Guns with an internal hammer are considered "Double-action only", because it's impossible to manually pull back the hammer.

Also, AFAIK, there's only 5.56x45, but 7.62 has x51, x39, x33, x25, x54r, and x38r at least. If I had to guess, I'd say that x51 is most common in the US, x39 most common in the world. Standard NATO is 5.56x45 and 7.62x51.

Arnt Striker fired pistols under the same category as double action only?

I'm unfamiliar with the term.  

[ArmasTermin]

Stirker-fired pistols activate the primer with a metal pin on a spring rather than a hammer, enclosed or not. For example, Glocks are Striker-fired, 1911s are hammer-fired. To help clarify the double-action single-action thing:

Single-action is called what it's called because the trigger performs a single action--releasing the hammer or striker. In double-action, pulling the trigger doues two actions--cocking the gun and releasing the hammer/striker.

For example with a Single-action Army, one pulls back the hammer until it locks then pulls the trigger, releasing the hammer and firing the gun. In the Colt 1911, in stead of pulling back the hammer you generally pull back the slide, which cocks the hammer at the same time as putting a round in the chamber. Then the trigger is pulled and does a single action--releasing the hammer. Recoil then recocks it for you so, unlike the single-action Army, you don't have to c**k it between shots.

An example of a double-action gun could be the Colt Python revolver, or many other double-action revolvers, where you pull the trigger and it moves the hammer to the rear, turns the cylinder, and releases the hammer to fire the gun. This is why double-action guns have harder trigger pulls--you're operating more things at once.

Hope that explains it.  

[SharkieDraws]

ArmasTermin

Stirker-fired pistols activate the primer with a metal pin on a spring rather than a hammer, enclosed or not. For example, Glocks are Striker-fired, 1911s are hammer-fired. To help clarify the double-action single-action thing:

Single-action is called what it's called because the trigger performs a single action--releasing the hammer or striker. In double-action, pulling the trigger doues two actions--cocking the gun and releasing the hammer/striker.

For example with a Single-action Army, one pulls back the hammer until it locks then pulls the trigger, releasing the hammer and firing the gun. In the Colt 1911, in stead of pulling back the hammer you generally pull back the slide, which cocks the hammer at the same time as putting a round in the chamber. Then the trigger is pulled and does a single action--releasing the hammer. Recoil then recocks it for you so, unlike the single-action Army, you don't have to c**k it between shots.

An example of a double-action gun could be the Colt Python revolver, or many other double-action revolvers, where you pull the trigger and it moves the hammer to the rear, turns the cylinder, and releases the hammer to fire the gun. This is why double-action guns have harder trigger pulls--you're operating more things at once.

Hope that explains it.

So essentially, all guns that need cocking after a fresh magazine are single-action, and double-action guns don't need cocking after loading?

I'm confused. neutral  

[Fresnel]

Wark_Ento

ArmasTermin

Stirker-fired pistols activate the primer with a metal pin on a spring rather than a hammer, enclosed or not. For example, Glocks are Striker-fired, 1911s are hammer-fired. To help clarify the double-action single-action thing:

Single-action is called what it's called because the trigger performs a single action--releasing the hammer or striker. In double-action, pulling the trigger doues two actions--cocking the gun and releasing the hammer/striker.

For example with a Single-action Army, one pulls back the hammer until it locks then pulls the trigger, releasing the hammer and firing the gun. In the Colt 1911, in stead of pulling back the hammer you generally pull back the slide, which cocks the hammer at the same time as putting a round in the chamber. Then the trigger is pulled and does a single action--releasing the hammer. Recoil then recocks it for you so, unlike the single-action Army, you don't have to c**k it between shots.

An example of a double-action gun could be the Colt Python revolver, or many other double-action revolvers, where you pull the trigger and it moves the hammer to the rear, turns the cylinder, and releases the hammer to fire the gun. This is why double-action guns have harder trigger pulls--you're operating more things at once.

Hope that explains it.

So essentially, all guns that need cocking after a fresh magazine are single-action, and double-action guns don't need cocking after loading?

I'm confused. neutral

No, because you need to rack the slide to load the gun. A double action can be fired from hammer-down, a single action can't.  

[SharkieDraws]

What is racking the slide? (Please don't place your head in your hands. XD )  

[Fresnel]

Wark_Ento

What is racking the slide? (Please don't place your head in your hands. XD )

It's when you grab the slide on a pistol, pull it back, and let it drop forward again.  

[Freak_090]

Wark_Ento

(Please don't place your head in your hands. XD )

Just ask away. Note that this sub-forum is intended for Noob questions.  

[SharkieDraws]

Okay, thanks. So, uh...

- Cocking is the same as racking?

- All pistols need racking?

- I've seen movies where pistols, after receiving a fresh magazine, slide back in position and are ready to fire without racking. Is this inaccurate?

- Where is the button on the side of a pistol usually located for ejecting magazines?  

[Freak_090]

Wark_Ento

Okay, thanks. So, uh...

- Cocking is the same as racking?

- All pistols need racking?

- I've seen movies where pistols, after receiving a fresh magazine, slide back in position and are ready to fire without racking. Is this inaccurate?

- Where is the button on the side of a pistol usually located for ejecting magazines?

Racking simply means that you pulled the bolt/slide all the way back and released it. Cocking means that the weapon is in a state that it could be fired, not necessarily loaded however.

All pistols need cocking, not racking. There is no bolt on a revolver. Therefore, it cannot be racked.

Some pistols like the 1911, SA XDs, and M9 have what is called a "Slide Catch". When the magazine is empty a little lever on the side of the pistol moves up and goes into a notch on the slide. It "catches" the slide so that it doesn't go fully cycle. Then, when you inster a fresh mag, all you have to do is push down the level and the slide goes forward and chambers a new round. It saves time on the reload. However, you can also pull the slide back a few milimeters and release it that way as well

The mag release button is usually by the pistol grip and near a right-handed shooters thumb, and between the trigger gaurd and mag well